Chapter 16: Confession

"Wife!"

Seeing his wife's excitement, the already exhausted Yuan Zhaodi suddenly gained some energy and took several steps to reach Mrs. Xiao Li.

"I'm back!"

"I made you worry!"

Well!

The Yuan Family members were all fed a mouthful of dog food.

The crowd who had been worried about Yuan Zhaodi just moments ago, immediately dispersed to have breakfast.

Because Yuan Zhaodi was missing yesterday, the Yuan Family just threw together some breakfast, as most people really couldn't eat much.

But with Yuan Zhaodi's return, everyone's mood brightened, and their appetite increased, so the casually prepared breakfast was quickly insufficient.

"Mom, there's not enough to eat!"

Yuan Pandi and his brothers didn't eat much yesterday, and now that they could eat freely, they immediately felt their stomachs weren't full.

Hearing this, Mrs. Zeng snorted and said, "Not enough to eat, then you stay hungry!"

"...?!"

Yuan Pandi was dumbfounded.

"Mom, come on, the fourth is home safely!"

"We'll make something nice for lunch, for now, bear with it!"

"Mom, what are we making that's good?"

Hearing their mother's words, Yuan Pandi and his brothers' eyes opened wide.

"Stewed chicken!"

"If you go catch some fish in the river, we'll cook them too. If not, just the chicken!"

Good food?

Naturally, you eat what's available at home.

A clever woman can't cook without rice.

Even if she wants to make a feast, the house must have the ingredients.

"Second, third, and fourth, let's head to the river!"

Listening to Mrs. Zeng, Yuan Pandi immediately called for his three brothers to move out.

"The fourth didn't sleep a wink last night, let him rest at home, you three brothers go!"

Old Yuan tapped the table and offered his opinion.

And so, Yuan Zhaodi was left at home.

Regarding yesterday's water thief encounter at Dragon Head Town's pier, Yuan Zhaodi didn't elaborate, but Old Yuan could sense there was more to it.

Leaving Yuan Zhaodi at home was because Old Yuan wanted to get the full story from his son.

Once Yuan Pandi and his brothers left, and all the women in the house scattered, Old Yuan finally looked at Yuan Zhaodi and asked the question on his mind.

"Tell me, what exactly happened with the water thieves yesterday?"

Old Yuan had encountered water thieves and mountain bandits in the past, but whether water thieves or bandits, they mostly aimed for wealth not lives. Yet yesterday's events overturned Old Yuan's years of experience and understanding.

"Dad, yesterday's water thieves weren't water thieves!"

Yuan Zhaodi lowered his voice, "When they came, I was on the pier. I jumped into the water to escape. The water thieves landed, not for money, but purely to kill!"

"Later, I swam across the river and followed their boat downstream, watching it enter the government's navy water village!"

"What?!"

Hearing Yuan Zhaodi's words, Old Yuan was stunned, speechless for a long time.

"Dad, this matter, you can't tell anyone else."

"If it gets out, our family won't have a way to survive!"

The government navy's soldiers disguised as water thieves, attacked Dragon Head Town's pier, killed hundreds, and burned down an entire town. There's no way there isn't more to this story.

"I know!"

No need for a particular reminder from Yuan Zhaodi, Old Yuan knew well the stakes involved.

"From today onwards, you can't drink anymore!"

"Me neither!"

Old Yuan looked at Yuan Zhaodi and declared firmly.